Career Development and preparing your CV

Dr Katherine Selby

Careers

• PhD

• Professional career

• Challenge to find right job or PhD

• Competition is strong

Luck or skill?

Ways to influence success

• Be enthusiastic

• Talk to others about their interests

• Make contact with people

• Demonstrate your knowledge

• Tell people what you want

NetworkingDale Carnegie How to win friends and influence people

Curriculum Vita

• Passport to success

• Details qualifications

• Skills

• Experiences

• Interests

Vital to first impressions

Design

• Easy on the eye

• Organised

• Logical

CVs are read quickly

How long should CV be?

• Dependent on post

• Some require one page

• Some require much detail

• First page to catch people’s attention

• Aim for 3-4 pages of uncluttered text

Types of CV

• Chronological: history of career and experience in order (most recent achievements first)

• Functional: emphasises skills and experiences

Referees

• Include contact details of referees in CV

• Contact referees before you send application

• Send your referees the job applications details and an up to date CV

• Keep in touch with referees and ask for their advice

What to leave out

• Race, sexual orientation or religion unless specific to job

• Don’t include a photo

• Only list a limited number of hobbies eg playing an instrument, an outdoor pursuit

Write your CV for each job, don’t always use the same one

Letters

• Letter of enquiry: When a position isn’t advertised

• Covering letter of application: Reveal your interest and enthusiasm for post offered

Letter of enquiry

• Convey knowledge of the person you are writing to, and interest and enthusiasm for their work.

• Offer a brief background on your qualifications, experience, what kind of position you are looking for, and possibly also on your career objectives.

• Cordial, direct, immaculately presented and concise.

A Bad letter of enquiry

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am interested in doing a PhD in marine biology. I would be grateful if you could let me know if you have any positions available and what your research interests are.

Yours,

*****

Hello!

i saw on your website that you are doing work on whalesharks i have a six week plasement for my course and am really interested in consevation work and want to now if you have opportunites for people to work with you

Yours, ********

A good letter of enquiryDear Professor Roberts,

I am very keen to study for a PhD in marine ecology. I am about to start my honours year in ecology at the University of *****. I have recently come back from a year at the University of Queensland on an exchange studying marine biology. This together with research experience on coral reefs of Indonesia have fuelled my interestin tropical marine ecology. I am particularly interested marine conservation and your research on the function of marine reserves greatly appeals to me.

I would also be grateful for advice about other marine biology research going on in the UK. I was wondering if you had a bit of time in the next week to discuss it. I live in York but am going back to ***** very soon. A copy of my CV is attached.

Yours sincerely,********

Covering letters

• Highlight why you are suitable for the post

• State your achievements and abilities

• Don’t lie

• Have a website that your future employer could access but make sure it is up to date, relevant and suitable

Interviews

• Nerve wracking and difficult

• Pre-requisite for a job

Aim is to get the job and to decide if you want to work for that employer

Functions of an interview

• To assess:• your expertise and competence • your motivation• your interpersonal skills• your decision making and problem solving

skills• your interest in the position• your personality and likeability

Interview preparation

• Prepare to beat nerves

• Think about questions you may be asked and answers to them

• Ask a colleague to go through some questions with you

• Be sharp physically and mentally

• Be enthusiastic

• Prepare 1-2 question to ask the employer

Who will get the job?

• Person who has:

• Best fit of skills

• Best fit with employer

• Best to fit any special needs of job

• Best fit in terms of salary history

Body Language

• Be alert and look interested

• Stand up straight

• Look people in the eye and direct answer to everyone in the room

• Only sit down when asked

• Look as if you are enjoying yourself

• Don’t give overlong or too brief answers

Other tips

• Dress smartly

• Treat everyone you meet on interview day as important

• Use people that you meet to give you information